The Lava Plains of Monusius Kraktorum

Second Slide

(Continued from Slide 1)

After a time, the magma pooled into, what I had noticed, was a slight valley which helped to contain this part of the overflow (the other magma quickly spilling over the sides and running down other slopes far from our view). It started to slowly cool. Shapes made their way into the frame like thin ribbons of red. The darker patches now signaled a greater cooling phase which could be seen taking place before our eyes. We were lucky that this all happened so fast. As it so happens, the volcano first blew out this river and, in so doing, ripped another piece off of it's mouthy vertical tunnel so that a relatively small amount of lava spilled into our valley below, ensuring that we would gain a spectacle of fast-cooling to last us a lifetime of memories!

At this phase, an acquaintance of mine leaned over and whispered in my ear "By Jove! Doesn't it look just like a cake frosting? Why, if it weren't for the heat, I'd say that I wouldn't mind indulging in some, whot?" Of course, we laughed at the thought! What strongman's stomach could even bear the slightest touch of such extreme forms of heat! No, dear readers, I must assure you that the senses were already overloaded: sight - with the splendid view below; sound - the rushing roar and popping sounds of lava cooling; smell - the burning sulphur, coal, and other minerals that were (thankfully) blown and dissipated very quickly by the prevailing winds; touch - the heat of the magma below! With those experiences already in full use, I declined to actually go down and taste the substance! But then...I could taste it. Yes, dear readers, I could actually taste it, a slight tingling in my mouth, a taste of many minerals in the air. I thanked the heavens once more for the winds that enabled us to stay where we were without suffering prolonged exposure to too many unhealthy elements!

Onwards to the next slide....

- Traveling Uncle Nat. :)

02/06/00